A/N: My first Frozen fic, my 2nd fanfic ever. I don't own Frozen.

The troll and mirror story is from Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen.

Noaidi - Sami shaman

She turned the pristine white envelope in her hand, the back bore the seal of the Southern Isles and below that the letter "H" in an elegantly masculine hand, to ensure she knew who it was from, and the date in the bottom right corner. It had been several months since his forced departure, and still the first letter infuriated her. Not because of its contents, Elsa had tossed the letter in an unused drawer of her desk to be forgotten, but because he had the audacity to ask her to acknowledge his continued existence moreover spend her time reading a correspondence from him. She honestly didn't know why she didn't throw it away outright.

It sat in her drawer out of sight, but never out of mind, mostly due to the fact that more came after. The fury that came with receiving the letters died down after the first dozen. It had become routine: turn over the envelope, see the "H," toss it in the drawer. This went on for a little over a year, until a letter bounced back out of the drawer and landed softly on her foot. She sighed in annoyance, leaned over to pick up the letter and place in with its brethren.

The drawer was full. What had been anger now became curiosity. She glanced around the room to ensure she was alone, which she quickly felt silly for since she already knew that, gathered all the letters and her letter opener in her arms and snuck them back to her room.

She shut the door quickly behind her, wincing at the loud bang it had made. She spread the letters out on her bed and counted. Her eyes widened; he had written her one hundred and five letters. The curiosity was just too much and she searched the pile for the first one.

HRH Queen Elsa of Arendelle,

I write this quite certain it shall never be read. I know I can never apologize enough for my actions, I fear it would be insulting to even try. Not a day goes by that it doesn't haunt me. I only hope that you and your sister have forgiven me. Not for my sake, but because neither of you deserve to have the heaviness of hate on your hearts. I wish I could erase the memories for both of you. I pray Anna finds someone to love that is worthy of her kind heart, and that you no longer fear yourself.

Your Eternal Servant,

ADM Prince Hans Westerguard of the Southern Isles

"He's Admiral Westerguard?" Elsa sat stunned, frost slowly creeping up the edges of the paper.

The winter after her coronation had been a rough one due to the damaged crops she had caused with her impromptu winter storm. When the grain supplies began running low Arendelle received large gifts of grain from the surrounding kingdoms, many of which had declined trade agreements, citing repayment of debt to Admiral Westerguard of the Southern Isles. She had assumed that the Southern Isles were trying to mend diplomatic relations, she never imagined it would be Hans' doing.

She eagerly tore open the next letter.

HRH Queen Elsa of Arendelle,

My modest fleet has been rather effective in reducing the pirate activity in the waters of this small part of the world. Many of the kingdoms were foolish enough to ask me directly how they could repay me for my rather aggressive patrols. I do hope the grain they supplied was enough to feed your people through the winter. I specifically instructed that they use my naval rank in any correspondence with you regarding the shipments since I doubt you are aware that I hold one. I did not want to make you choose between feeding your people and taking aid from me. I take full responsibility for the destruction of your crops.

Perhaps I should explain some things first. I am the thirteenth son of King Anders and Queen Adelaide of the Southern Isles. As I am sure you have already learned the life of a monarch is a busy one. My father concentrated his attention on my elder brothers, grooming them for lives in the upper echelons of society; the rest of us were expected to take military positions. My mother had little time to spend with thirteen rambunctious sons as her social schedule kept her away from the castle most of the time. I am the youngest. I was also unintentional. My brother Klaus is closest to me in age (being eight years my senior), and the only one who bothered with me. He was a frail child and not fit for military command, but has a keen mind and is one of my father's most trusted trade advisers. He taught me to use my assets to my advantage; a lesson I horribly misunderstood.

Why am I not in prison? The matter was hushed up quickly; only my father, mother, brother Wolfgang (the Crown Prince), and Klaus are aware of my transgressions. I was removed from the ship under the dark of night and thrown into a small cell. No one was permitted to open the heavy wooden door to my cell or to communicate with me in anyway. I have no idea how long I was in there as I lost track of time, but I believe it had been several months.

Klaus retrieved me from my pen and took me directly to our father, mother, and brother Wolfgang (with a brief stop to allow me to cleanse myself and receive new clothes). He spoke not a word as he lead me to father's study. I expected to be laughed at and ridiculed, not because I failed, but because I would think I was worth holding such a position. After that onslaught I expected to receive either death or exile. Klaus led me in and dismissed the guards. Wolfgang couldn't look me in the face, not that I could bring myself to raise my head to look at him, and my parents had their backs to me; another man stood in the shadows. As soon as the door shut my parents turned to face me. I braced myself for either a physical or verbal assault. I received neither. The man in the corner approached me, lifted my chin, and looked directly into my eyes, I have never felt so uncomfortable under anyone's gaze, and then he turned to my parents and nodded. The next few minutes are sort of a blur. My father and mother stepped forward and embraced me. They wept openly on my shoulders (being slightly shorter than me), and apologized for my childhood. My father apologized for putting being a king above being a father (my mother for being too wrapped up in her social life to make time for me); for being so busy with my elder brothers that they never gave me a chance to know they loved me. They apologized for the beatings and insults I suffered at the hands of my other brothers. Wolfgang apologized for failing to protect me. Klaus said nothing, but his tears spoke for him. My parents released me and I slid down in a chair. I have no words to fully describe the moments after. I have never wept so hard in all my life, but there was a terrible pain in my chest and right eye as if something was trying to escape by tearing through them. As quickly as it had come the pain stopped. A heavy burden I didn't know I was carrying was lifted. I can now truly feel things other than anger, hate, and misery. I saw my parents and brothers completely differently, I see everything differently. The man revealed himself to be a noaidi. When I had composed myself enough he made me stand and untuck my shirt, as I did a small shard of glass fell to the floor and landed next the one that had fallen out of my lap when I stood. He retrieved these, slipped them into a small pouch and exited.

Do you remember a story about evil trolls dropping a mirror that made everything good and beautiful wither in its reflection, while everything that was worthless and ugly became all that was reflected? Apparently it's more than just a story. The shards that fell from my body were shards of that mirror. They had embedded themselves in me as a child during an incident I don't remember. Klaus had tried for years to tell my father something was wrong (he didn't know about the glass, he just knew I had inexplicably changed) and it wasn't until my actions against your sister and you that he believed him. The noaidi he called had his suspicions after speaking with Klaus and his uncomfortable stare had been his way of confirming it.

My father informed me that I was to be reinstated in the navy as admiral of a small fleet of well-armed brig sloops (Daggry (my flagship), Halvmaane, Svane, Fyen, and Stjerne). I was to use my modest armada to hunt pirates in the waters surrounding the Southern Isles, my naval rank being mainly decorative prior; only used for ceremonies and touring the kingdom's waters with foreign dignitaries. It was the kindest form of exile he could figure out to give me while he tried to repair relations with you.

Some have likened this to prison, with the added risk of drowning, but I have never felt freer in my life. My men seem to enjoy being under my command, and I couldn't have received a finer crew. My contentedness bothers me at times. It seems unfair that I should have such freedom after what I have done.

After my mind starts to wander to dark memories I know I must rest. I will no doubt relive them in my nightmares, and my men need me reasonably well rested in the morning.

Your Eternal Servant,

ADM Prince Hans Westerguard of the Southern Isles

This sounded nothing like the monster who had tried to take over her kingdom two years ago, nor did it sound like almost sickeningly sweet mask he wore for Anna. Elsa wiped her eyes with her sleeves. She remembered the story of the mirror form her childhood, but she never imagined it to be true. She racked her brain trying to think of any way she could verify that the legend was true, either way Anna had to read them.

Anna awoke to a soft knock on her door. She drug herself out of bed and opened it to find her elder sister standing there clutching frosted papers wearing an unreadable expression, "Elsa, what are you still doing up?" She asked with a yawn and a stretch.

"I need you to read these," she said thrusting the pages into her sister's hands.

"Alright, I'll read them in the morning," she said sleepily.

"No, please, Anna, I need you to read them now," Elsa's pleading eyes woke Anna from her daze, and she sat the bed and began to read as Elsa nervously paced the room leaving icy foot prints in her wake.

"These letters are over a year old, why didn't you tell me sooner?" Anna asked slightly hurt.

"I only just read them. When I received them I would throw them in a drawer, then the drawer started to overflow and curiosity got the best of me."

"The drawer started to overflow? How many has he written you?"

"Over a hundred."

"Have you read them all?"

"No, just those two.

"Whoa," Anna said slowly holding the papers away from her and eyeing them suspiciously, "He's Admiral Westerguard!? THE Admiral Westerguard!? The Admiral Westerguard that had so much food sent to us you had to start sending it back!?"

"I know, we couldn't have made it through that winter if it hadn't been for his help," Elsa said still pacing with her arms wrapped around her abdomen.

"I remember that story about the mirror, papa used to tell it to us. I never thought it was real."

"Neither did I, I wish there was a way to find out."

"Kristoff!" Ann said jumping up from her bed, "Kristoff might know, or if he doesn't the trolls should! I'll see him the morning and ask him at breakfast," Anna smiled brightly at her sister.

Elsa returned a small appreciative smile, "Thank you."

Elsa had given up on sleep, her mind plagued with questions. She picked up the third letter feeling almost guilty for reading them since they were technically never meant to be read.

HRH Queen Elsa of Arendelle,

Made port call in Corona today. I added to my library from a local book shop; there is far more sea than pirates. I have what one would expect inside an admiral's quarters. Mostly tomes of history and philosophy, but I have found myself oddly interested in romantic novels. When I first began reading them I had a great deal of trouble controlling my emotions and would often end up sobbing uncontrollably. Thankfully, that has since passed and I just feel a gentle euphoria when I close the book and hide it with its brethren in a crate in the back of my storeroom.

That was the unmanliest thing I have ever confessed.

The men of my flagship have given me the nickname Admiral Freckles since all the time I spend in this accursed sun has brought them to an unwanted prominence. My shoulders, cheeks, and the bridge of nose are spotted with the damned things. I guess I should be thankful they seem to have run out of ways to tease me about my hair.

I find myself wanting to apologize to you for my tangents, but since your eyes will never see these words, it seems unnecessary.

Somehow the royal family found out my royal status (I blame my lieutenant) and invited me to dine with them at the palace. It was a lovely dinner, the king and queen were pleasant, the princess has a rather unbridled spirit akin to Anna's, and her husband was interesting (a former thief it seems), but the best part of it was its ending. Corona does not have Arendelle's mild summers, and given that this was a royal invitation it was customary that I attend in full dress uniform, so by the time I returned to ship and rid myself of the heavy woolen great coat and ridiculous feathered hat, the rest of my uniform was stuck to me with sweat. I write this sitting on the quarterdeck hoping the night air and slight breeze will chill me. It's not working.

Your Eternal Servant,

ADM Prince Hans Westerguard of the Southern Isles

Elsa chuckled to herself a little, but the smile dropped quickly. The letters were so random and flowed so poorly she had trouble believing them false. If he had actually expected her to read them would he have written what he had? She lied on her bed staring at the canopy until sleep took her.

"Do you think he could be telling the truth?" Anna asked Kristoff as they approached the troll clearing.

"I know the mirror was real, but if he had pieces in him, I don't know," she had such a serious look on her usually smiling face. He turned, wrapped his arms around her and pressed his lips to hers. He released her and she shyly smiled up at him, "That's better."

There was a familiar rumbling as the trolls rolled over to the happy couple, "you two are just so cute together!" Bulda said as she embraced them both.

Kristoff blushed, "Where's Pabbie?" he asked quick to change the subject.

"In his hut."

The elder troll sat at a table studying the markings on a stone, "Kristoff, Princess Anna, a pleasure to have you visit." Kristoff hugged Pabbie then sat on the floor, Anna followed suit.

"The story you told me about the mirror that shattered, what happened to the broken glass?" Kristoff questioned.

"The pieces are scattered throughout the world. The noaidi have been collecting them to keep them from harming anyone, but some pieces are so small they're almost impossible to detect."

"Those small pieces, can they get into a person?" Anna asked.

"Yes, and mercy on those who suffer such a fate, those pieces still have all the power the mirror possessed when it was whole. "

"What if a piece got into a person's eye or heart?"

"If in the eye that person would only see ugliness and horror. In the heart, well, it would be frozen in a way. They would only be able to feel hate, pain, and misery. May I ask why you wish to know about all this?"

Anna fished around in her bag, pulled out the letter from Hans and handed to him. The old troll studied the document intensely before closing his eyes and slowly shaking his head, "that poor soul."

"You think he's telling the truth?" Anna asked taking the page back.

"Yes, these things happen rarely anymore, so I doubt he would know how to describe that without it actually happening," as if reading Anna's thoughts he continued, "No, he can't truly be held accountable for his actions, and his remorse is genuine."

Elsa paced in her study, snow falling lightly on her shoulders. Even after confirmation from the trolls she had trouble believing such a fantastical story; a snowflake landed on her nose as if to mockingly remind her of her own. "Is something troubling you, your majesty?" Kai asked as he gently placed her tea on her desk.

"Do you believe the story of the evil trolls and the mirror?"

"Of course, your highness. I have no choice, but to believe it," he said with a slight chuckle. Elsa gave him a confused look. "When I was a child Gerda and I were looking at a picture book near an open window. The wind blew in shards of that mirror that lodged themselves in my eye and heart. It stung for a moment, but when the pain subsided I was able to neither see any beauty in the world, nor feel anything but hate, pain, and misery."

Elsa stood stunned, "how did you get them out?"

"Gerda's love forced them from my body."

"Kai, please read this," he took the frosted parchment from her shaking hand.

His eyes grew wide as he read, "that poor man. When Gerda rescued me I was racked with guilt for being so cruel to her. I can't begin to imagine what he must be going through after what he did."

Kai had held nothing but contempt for Hans prior to reading the letter, his sudden change to sympathy cemented her decision, "pack my summer dresses and make ready a ship, I leave for the Southern Isles in the morning."

"Would your majesty like me to accompany her?"

Elsa smiled, "I would like that very much."

She walked straight to Anna's door before her courage could wane. She knocked firmly on the door, opened it swiftly and found she had interrupted Anna and Kristoff, fully clothed, but doing something she was sure she didn't want to know about. "I'm leaving for the Southern Isles in the morning," she announced ignoring the flushing in her cheeks.

"Wait, what? Tomorrow!?" Anna said jumping up from the bed and rushing to her sister.

"Yes, if I send word of my coming he will make certain he's not there. A surprise visit is my best chance of catching him."

"What are you going to do? What are going to say? I'm coming with you!"

"Anna, I need you to stay here and take care of Arendelle. I will take Kai with me."

"I…but…fine," Anna pouted, "You better tell me everything when you get back." She threw her arms around Elsa.

"I will, and we'll finish planning your wedding."